Phonographic control device



April 9 s. G, LANGLEY ET 1,954,011

PHONOGRAPHIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed June 23, 1933 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTORS 8a m 6. Langley Gustav EBraun ATT NEY April 1.934- s. G. LANGLEY ET AL 1,954,011

PHONOGRAPHIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed June 23, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 45 FIE-8 mllllml, Z

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INVENTORS Sam Giwglgy Gusfau E Bra an A RNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1934 PHONOGRAPHIC CONTROL DEVICE Sam G. Langley, Maplewood, and Gustav F. Braun, Elizabeth, N. J., assignors to Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 23, 1933, Serial No. 677,186 Claims. (01. 200-5) This invention relates to phonographic conis therefore desirable that it be possible to pro trol devices and more particularly to devices for vide with one type 0! dictating machine, either controlling the operation of phonographic matype of control device. To accomplish this, best r chines such as are used for recording and transresults are obtainable by the use of electrical scribing dictation and which are commonly recontrol devices because of the comparatively ferred to as dictating machines. When used for greater ease with whi h h y m y be Operatedtranscribing dictated matter, such machines are This invention therefore contemplates the provicommonly provided with a remote control deslon of a control device, adapted to be placed upon vice whereby the operator may engage and disthe floor and actuated by the foot of the operator,

engage the mandrel clutch to stop and start the wherein the advantages due to electrical opermandrel of the phonograph at will. Such maation are obtained.

chines are also commonly provided with a re- In the construction of such an electrical foot mote control device whereby the operator may Control device. there were certain problems n at any time cause the reproducer to be backfound in connection with pneumatically operated 15 spaced along the record tablet to repeat matter devices, which required Successful Solution in previously reproduced. order to obtain satisfactory operation. In a foot Various control devices have been provided in control device of the pneumatic type. t is u al the past for enabling the operator of the mato provide two pedals connected to plungers opchine to effect actuation of the mandrel clutch crating within Cylinders, which are in turn 20 and the repeating of previously reproduced matnected to the controlled mechanisms by means of ter with a minimum or effort and distraction. ru b r tu e The con r l p da r usually In one widely used form, the control device commounted Side y Side, and it s bv us tha th prises a pair of juxtaposed keys positioned adf cti ns control ed by the p da y be jacent the typewriter keyboard where they may ve d y p y interchanging t e wo ru ber 25 be readily actuated by the operator without movu s. t s desirable i y t t ol device ing the hands from their normal position in redesigned for the purposes indicated, to provide lation to the typewriter keyboard. With this such interchangeability of function of the pedals form of control device, it is common to use elecsince some ope a s P e e mo en and trical means to actuate the mandrel clutch and S me the Other. A180 Since Such devices are in- 30 the repeating mechanism since it is desirable that tended to be placed upon the floor, they may be the pressure and length of stroke required to op- Overturned accidentally and the pedals thus conerate the control device be extremely small unu y depressed- While this wo d ul der these conditions. in no undesirable result in the pneumatic type r In another form of ontr l devi e. which ha control device, it might cause a considerable conbeen used, the mandrel clutch and the repeating sumption of electrical energy in the case 01' an mechanism are pneumatically operated and the electrically controlled device and might under control device comprises small pistons or plungsome circumstances cause the electrical equipers operatingin suitable cylinders in a manner ment with which the control device is associated well known. Sucha control device is usually to become overheated, since such apparatus may 40 placed upon the floor for actuation by the foot be designed for intermittent operation only.

of the operator since as a general rule devices The Possibility 0! continued depression 0! the of this character require a greater stroke and a pedals is increased in the case of electrical congreater operating pressure than control devices trol apparatus by the fact that the pedals refor electrically operated mechanisms. The conquire very low operating pressure.

struction of the phonograph as to actuation of It is the principal object of this invention to the clutch and of the repeating mechanism has provide an improved electrical dictating machine therefore in the past determined the type of concontrol device which is adapted in the normal use 'trol device to be used. thereof, to be placed on the floor for actuation by The operator of such a machine usually bethe foot of the operator and which is of rugged comes accustomed to one form or another of construction but operable by extremely light control device. If for any reason an operator, pressure.

familiar with one type of control'device, is called I It is a further object of this invention to proupon to operate a machine having the other type vide a control device of this character having two of control device, it may be diflicult to readily acseparately operable members, one for controlling a quire the technique of the unfamiliar device. It the stopping and start f the phonograph mandrel and the other for controlling the backspacing mechanism of the phonograph, and in which the functions of the said two members are reversible by a very simple change.

It is another object of this invention to provide a single device for separately controlling the back-spacing mechanism and the stopping and starting of the mandrel, such device comprising members which are adapted for actuation by the toe of the operator and which preferably are arranged to be disposed very close to the floor so as to minimize the constraint upon the operator.

Further objects and features of our invention will be disclosed in the following description and the appended claims.

For a clearer understanding of our invention reference may be had to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, wherein! Figure 1 is a side elevation of a control device in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the control device of Fig. 1 with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, partly broken away, taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the mounting of the terminal board of the control device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the insulating block carrying the fixed contacts and the connecting lugs of the control device;

Fig. 6 is a view, partly broken away, of the insulating block and associated parts as seen from below; I

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electrical circuits of the control device and of the clutch and backspacing actuation mechanisms of the phonograph.

The control device comprises a base 1 having an upwardly extending flange 1' to provide an enclosure for the mechanism of the control. A pair of pins 2 are mounted in suitably drilled holes in the front portion of flange 1' and are held in place by set screws 4. A pair of pedals 5, 6 are pivotally mounted on the pins 2 and extend without the flange 1. A pair of coil springs 8 disposed around the pins 2 are provided to bias the pedals 5, 6 to their uppermost positions. Within the enclosure provided by flange its 1, the pedals 5, 6 have inwardly extending arms 9 and 10 which respectively carry pins 11 and 12 at their extremities. When the pedals are in their extreme upper positions under the influence of springs 8, the pins 11 and 12 rest on cushions 17, 18 riveted to the base 1. When the pedals are pushed downwardly the pins 11, 12 are adapted to coact respectively with springs 13, 14. At the points of contact between the pins and the springs, two small pieces of insulating material 15, 16 are riveted to the respective springs to prevent electrical connection. I

At their outer ends, the springs 13, 14 respectively carry loose contacts 19, 20. These loose contacts are each formed of two sections having truncated conical sections. The smaller ends of the respective pairs of sections forming these ontacts are respectively placed together within nlarged openings in the contact springs 13 and l4i 'and suitable rivets 21, 22 are used to secure the sections of the respective contacts 19 and 20 together. The openings in the springs 13 and 14 are sufficiently large so that the contacts 19, 20 are respectively loose therein. The contact 19 is adapted to coact with fixed spring contacts 23, 25, 29 and 31, and the contact 20 in a similar manner tacts.

is adapted to coact with spring contacts 24, 26, 28 and 30. These spring contacts are secured to an insulating block 27 which is mounted on the base 1 and spaced therefrom by spacers 32 and 32. The contacts 25 and 31 and 26 and 30 are held on the block by means of rivets 33 which pass entirely through the block and through a strap 33, thus connecting the contacts 25, 31, 26 and 30 together. The contact 23 is held on the block 2'7 by a drive screw which also holds a connecting lug 23 in place. In a similar manner the contact 24 with its connecting lug 24', contact 29 with its connecting lug 29, and the contact 28 with its connecting lug 28 are secured to the insulating block 27. Whenthe pedals 26 are in their uppermost position the spring contact arms 13, 14 bias the contacts 19, 20 into contact with the lower set of spring contacts. By reason of the loose connection of the arms 13, 14 with the contacts 19 and 20, the latter are free to come into positive alignment with their respective spring con- By this means, a relatively large contact area is obtained, thus minimizing any danger of poor contact or of excessive heating due to small area of contact. Furthermore the contacts 19, 20' are free to rotate within the openings in the spring arms 13, 14 and as a result will, in use, constantly change their angular positions and thus distribute the wear over a large area. By this construction a switch is provided in which only negligible wear or deterioration of the contacts will occur with a very large number of operations.

When the pedals 5, 6 are depressed, the contacts 19, 20 will be lifted from the bottom pairs of spring contacts and into engagement with the upper pairs of spring contacts. Since the rear contacts are electrically connected, this operation of breaking contact between the lower set of spring contacts and making contact between the upper set of spring contacts on one side, corresponds to the operation of a single pole double throw switch.

The extent of the downward motion of the pedals 5, 6 is limited by a pair of rubber bumpers 39 placed beneath the pedals. Also outside of and adjacent to the pedals 5,-6, a pair of knobs 40, mounted on the base 1, are provided to act as foot rests at any time during the operation in which neither of the pedals 5, 6 is depressed. These knobs 40 are each formed with a slightly conical upper surface so that the toe may .be readily slipped from the respective pedal to the knob or vice versa, the only motion required being a slight lateral movement of the foot which may be conveniently effected by pivoting the foot about the heel. The knobs 40 extend a very slight distance above the pedals 5, 6 when the latter are in their uppermost or inoperative position. It will thus be seen that if the control device is inadvertently turned over, these knobs will prevent actuation of the control device by preventing depression of the pedals 5, 6 due to the weight of the device.

External connections to the device are made by means of a four conductor cable 34 passing through a suitable boss on the flange 1' and held in place by a cable clamp 39. One wire 35 of the cable is soldered directly to one of the rivets 33 and is thus electrically connected to the contacts 25, 31, 26 and 30. Conductors 36, 37 and 38 are secured under eyelets 42', 44' and 43' respectively fastened in a small terminal board 41. The terminal board 41 is held in place by three machine screws 42, 43 and 44 passing through eyelets 42', 43' and 44', which screws are threaded into and serve to make electrical connection to the terminal lugs '23, 24 and 28'. It will now be obvious that if the pedal 6 is in its uppermost position, wherein the contact 20 engages the spring contacts 28 and 30, a connection is made between the conductors 35 and 37. If this pedal is depressed thus causing the contact 20 to engage the spring contacts 24 and 26, a circuit is established between the conductor 35 and the conductor 38. As mentioned hereinbefore this is equivalent to the operation of a single pole, double throw switch. When the pedal 5 is in its uppermost position wherein the contact 19 engages the spring contacts 29 and 31, no circuit will thereby be established since none of the conductors is connected to the contact 29. When the pedal 5 is depressed, the contact 19 is moved into engagement with the spring contacts 23 and 25 and thereby makes a connection between the conductors 35 and 36. It is therefore seen that when the pedal 5 is depressed the operation :is that of merely closing a circuit.

It is desirable to cover the portion of the base 1 within the enclosure provided by the flange 1' with insulating material 51 to avoid the possibility of a ground occurring within the enclosure. The entire enclosure may be provided with a suitable cover 50 held in place by screws and easily removable ior inspection or adjustment of the control mechanism.

The mechanism on the phonograph for actuating the clutch may be of any desired form but is preferably of the form described in a patent to S. G. Langley, No. 1,380,486, issued June '1, 1921, and entitled Controlling device. A clutch actuating mechanism of this type is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8 and comprises two sets of electromagnets 48 and 48 having cores 54 and 54' for cooperation with pivoted armatures 49 and 49' which are resiliently connected. When a. circuit is established to cause current to flow through one set of the coils, both armatures are swung in the direction of that set and operate the clutch of the phonograph. At the same time, the switch 59 is actuated by the movement of the armatures 49 and 49 to break the circuit of the set of coils through which current has been passing and to prepare the circuit of the other set of coils for operation. When the other set of coils is energized, the reverse operation takes place, the clutch being shifted to its other position, the circuit through the last mentioned set of coils being broken by the switch 59, and the circuit of the first set of coils being again prepared for operation.

In Fig. 8, the contact 20 which controls the clutch shifting mechanism of the phonograph is shown in its lower position to which it is biased when the pedal 6 is in its uppermost position. Conductor 35 is connected to one pole of a'battery 53. Conductor 3'7, connected to spring contact 28, is connected to that one of the electromagnets 48, 48' which when energized moves the clutch to inoperative position. As shown in Fig. 8 this operation has already been performed, the clutch having been disconnected and the switch 59 having been moved to a. position wherein it opens the circuit which includes the electromagnet 48' 'and the conductor 3'7. Under these conditions the mandrel is stopped and the circuit of the electromagnet 48 for moving the clutch to operative position is prepared for a subsequent operation. If the pedal 6 is depressed and the contact 20 thereby caused to engage the contact springs 24 and 26, a circuit will be established from the battery 53 through the conductor 35 to the contact spring 26, through the contact 20 to the contact spring 24, and through the conductor 38, magnet coil 48, switch 59, and conductor 55 back to battery 53. The magnet 48 will thereupon be energized and the armature 49 will be attracted thereto and turn in a counterclockwise direction, moving the clutch to operative position wherein the mandrel of the phonograph revolves, and simultaneously moving the switch 59 to its other position wherein the circuit just described is broken and the circuit of the stopping electromagnet 48 is prepared for subsequent operation. If the pedal 6 is now released so that the contact 20 establishes a circuit between contact springs 28 and 30, the operations just described will take place in the opposite direction, disengaging the clutch of the phonograph and preparing the starting circuit for operation once more.

When pedal 5 is depressed thus causing contact 19 to establish connection between the spring contacts 23 and 25, a circuit is established from the battery 53 over the conductor 35 to spring contact 25, through contact 19 to spring contact 23,

over conductor 36 to the coil 45 of an electromagnet and back over a conductor 56 to battery 53. The electromagnet 45 is provided with a core 4'1 which will attract a pivotally mounted armature 46 so as to operate a backspacing mechanism which may, for instance, be of the type described in a copending application of H. F. M. Gramann, Serial No. 375,367, filed July 2, 1929. The back-spacing mechanism described in the said application is of the step-by-step type, each actuation of the no mechanism producing a backspacing motion of limited extent. The pedal 5 may therefore be depressed one or more times depending upon the extent of the backspacing motion desired.

As described above, the left-hand pedal 5 con- 1 5 trols the backspacing mechanism of the phonograph while the right-hand pedal 6 controls the mandrel clutch of the phonograph. Ii it is desired to reverse these functions and to cause the pedal 5 to control the clutch mechanism and the 12 pedal 6 to control the backspacing mechanism, the screws 42, 43 and 44 may be removed and the entire terminal board 41 turned over and the screws replaced. Under these conditions it will be obvious from the symmetry of the device that the functions of the two pedals are completely reversed, the terminal 28 now being blank because in reversing the terminal board 41 the comer which contains no eyelet for passage of the screw comes over the connecting lug 28'. However, the

spring contact 29 which formerly was not connected in the circuit is now connected therein since the eyelet 44 which holds the conductor 37 in place now comes into position over the threaded hole in the connecting lug 29' so that the screw 44 makes connection thereto. As shown in the drawings the eyelets into which the screws 43 and 44 flt are placed somewhat further apart than the eyelets into which the screws 42 and 43 fit. It is therefore possible to secure the terminal said device comprising a base adapted to be placed 153 upon the floor, a pair of electivelyactuatable pedals mounted on said base, switch mechanism controlled by said pedals, and circuits between said switch mechanism and said clutch operating and backspacing operating mechanisms on the phonograph comprising connecting means having two positions in one of which positions the functions controlled by the said pedals are the reverse of those controlled by the said pedals when the connecting means is in its other position.

2. In a control device for a phonograph, the combination of a base, a pair of pedals mounted adjacent each other on said base, and a pair of knobs mounted on said base adjacent to and outside of said pedals, said knobs being of substantially the same height as said pedals and being provided with sloping surfaces whereby the toe-of the foot may be moved from either knob to the adjacent pedal by a pivoting motion about the heel.

3. In a control device for a phonograph, the combination of a base, a pair of selectively operable pedals mounted on said base adjacent each other, a pair of knobs on said base adjacent to and outside of said pedals, said knobs being slightly higher than said pedals to prevent depression of the latter incase said device is inverted.

4. A control device for a phonograph comprising a control switch having a plurality of spring contacts and means for connecting at least two of said contacts, said means comprising a circular member having an annular groove and a support member loosely embracing said circular member at said groove whereby said circular member is free to rotate to distribute the wear of the switch and is also free to come into positive alignment with the spring contacts with which it is associated.

5. A control device for a phonograph having electrically actuated clutch and backspacing mechanisms, said control device comprising a pair of similar switches capable of controlling either said clutch mechanism or said backspacing mechanism, a single means for making electrical connection to said switches, and a mounting for said means, said means being attachable to said mounting in two positions only in one of which positions the mechanism controlled by each switch is opposite to that controlled when said means is attached inits other position.

SAM G. LANGLEY. GUSTAV F. BRAUN. 

